Coughs

“The air in the dorm is so dry, that it
makes a lot of us cough at night. We find that a cheap
humidifier or even a large bowl of water in the room
adds enough moisture to relieve those nightly
coughs.”

Rachael G., Cornell University

Coughing clears the lungs and airways.
Coughing is only a symptom, not the problem.

Signs & Symptoms

There are 3 kinds of coughs:

Productive. This brings up mucus or phlegm.

Nonproductive. This is a dry cough.

Reflex. This is a cough that comes from a problem somewhere else, like the ear or
stomach.

Causes

Other causes include having something stuck
in your windpipe and acid reflux from the stomach
that comes with heartburn. Coughing can also be a symptom of
a medical condition, such as
asthma.

Treatment

How to treat your cough depends on what kind it is. Treat the cause and
soothe the irritation. Stay away from smoking and secondhand smoke. Smoke
hurts your lungs and makes it harder for your body to fight an infection.